CHAPTER 230: CHAPTER 230 CONFRONTATION

Freya’s POV

The small town square that bordered our territory buzzed with afternoon shoppers, their casual chatter a stark contrast to the ice-cold dread crawling up my spine. I abandoned my car at a crooked angle and sprinted toward the ice cream shop, my wolf senses straining to catch any trace of Isabella’s familiar scent or Aurora’s distinctive perfume.

Empty. The cheerful pastel interior mocked my rising panic.

"They left about fifteen minutes ago," the elderly shopkeeper said, his weathered face creasing with concern as he took in my frantic expression. "The little one seemed... off. Not crying, mind you, but that spark she usually has? Gone. Made my old heart ache to see it."

My pulse thundered in my ears. "Which direction?"

"The blonde woman mentioned something about puppies at the pet store." His brow furrowed. "Strange thing though—when I offered to wrap up some of those lavender cookies Isabella loves, the woman got real sharp with me. Said they were in a hurry."

I was already moving, my wolf instincts screaming danger. The pet store sat three blocks away, dangerously close to where civilization gave way to the wild forest that concealed our pack lands. Perfect for a quiet disappearance.

Halfway there, Isabella’s scent hit me like a physical blow.

Terror. Pure, undiluted fear.

I rounded the corner and the scene that greeted me made my vision blur red with rage. Aurora’s manicured fingers were wrapped around Isabella’s thin wrist like a shackle, dragging my daughter toward a black SUV with windows so dark they looked like empty eye sockets. Isabella’s little sneakers scraped against the asphalt as she fought with every ounce of her four-year-old strength, her face set in the same stubborn defiance that marked every Blackwood alpha.

"Isabella!" The name tore from my throat.

My daughter’s head snapped up, hope blazing in her dark eyes. "Mommy!"

Aurora froze mid-step, then turned with the fluid grace of a predator, her expression morphing into a smile so sickeningly sweet it made my stomach churn.

"Freya, darling, what perfect timing," she purred, not loosening her grip on Isabella’s wrist. "The poor little one was beside herself missing you. I thought I’d surprise you both with a visit to your office."

"In an unmarked vehicle? No car seat?" I took a measured step forward, every fiber of my being focused on the space between Aurora and my child. "With my daughter clearly terrified? Let. Her. Go."

Aurora’s smile only widened. "Terrified? Don’t be ridiculous. We were having a wonderful adventure, weren’t we, Isabella?"

Isabella used Aurora’s momentary distraction to wrench free, her small legs pumping as she ran to me. I swept her into my arms, burying my face in her dark curls and breathing in her scent to convince my wolf she was safe.

"It’s okay, my brave girl," I whispered, my lips pressed to her temple. "Mommy’s here now."

"She said you were waiting somewhere special," Isabella’s voice trembled against my neck. "But my head got all buzzy and prickly like when the bad storms come. Something was wrong, Mommy. Really wrong."

That "buzzy" feeling was Isabella’s inherited sensitivity—a gift from my mother’s fairy bloodline that manifested as an early warning system against supernatural threats. My brilliant daughter had trusted her instincts even when fear tried to override them.

"You’re interfering in pack business," Aurora’s mask finally slipped, revealing the cold calculation beneath. "Silvano is dying, Freya. His daughter’s blood could save him, and you’re too selfish to see it."

"Liar." The word cracked like a whip between us as I backed away, keeping Isabella shielded. "You accessed my research files last night. You know exactly what Isabella’s heritage represents, and it has nothing to do with healing magic."

Shock flickered across Aurora’s perfect features—she hadn’t expected me to trace the breach back to her so quickly. Her composure cracked for just an instant before hardening into something ugly and desperate.

"You never deserved him," she snarled, her carefully maintained facade crumbling. "A real Luna would have sensed his pain months ago. Would have done anything to save her mate."

The barb found its mark, sending guilt spiraling through my chest, but I refused to let her see me flinch. "Speaking of months ago—how long have you been visiting the witch in the eastern territory? The same witch whose magical signature matches the curse slowly killing Silvano?"

Aurora went completely still, the color draining from her face. "You’re fishing."

"Am I?" I pulled out my phone with deliberate slowness. "Should we call Silvano right now and discuss your midnight trips across pack borders? Or would you prefer to explain why traces of dark magic cling to your aura like smoke?"

Her hand darted toward her jacket pocket, and I tensed, ready to throw myself between Isabella and whatever weapon Aurora might produce. But before either of us could move, a sound like rolling thunder shook the air around us.

"Step away from my mate and daughter, Aurora. Now."

Silvano emerged from the tree line like an avenging god, his powerful frame radiating lethal intent despite the obvious pain etched into every line of his body. Even cursed and weakened, he moved with the fluid grace of an apex predator, his eyes blazing gold with alpha fire.

The very air seemed to thicken around us as he approached, and I felt Isabella’s small body relax against mine for the first time since I’d found them.

"This is all a misunderstanding," Aurora’s voice took on a honeyed quality as she turned her attention to Silvano, her posture shifting into something almost seductive. "I was simply trying to reunite Isabella with her mother. The poor child has been so lonely with Freya working such long hours lately."

I felt Isabella’s fingers tighten in my shirt. When she spoke, her young voice rang clear and true in the charged air.

"That’s not what you said." Despite her fear, my daughter lifted her chin with unmistakable Blackwood pride. "You said my blood was special. That it could make Daddy better if we went to the scary place with the other lady."

The temperature seemed to drop ten degrees as Silvano’s expression turned murderous. "You spoke of using my daughter’s blood?" His words emerged as barely human growls, his alpha presence expanding until the very ground seemed to vibrate beneath our feet. "You threatened my heir?"

Aurora stumbled backward, genuine fear finally cracking her composure. "It’s not a threat, Silvano! The fairy bloodline she carries—it’s the key to breaking your curse. I’ve been researching ways to save you—"

"You’ve been conspiring," I cut in, my voice steady despite the fury boiling in my veins. "The magical signature I traced from my compromised files leads directly back to the same witch who cursed Silvano. The same witch whose dark energy has been clinging to you for months."

Aurora’s gaze darted between us like a trapped animal seeking escape. "You can’t prove any of that."

"Actually," came a new voice from behind us, crisp with authority, "she can."